[noelchurchill]

It's like this article was written by a high schooler.

[panacea]

I think you need to listen to the audio podcast version before you disparage the style of exposition they use.

The Planet Money folk unashamedly try and explain economic current affairs and stories as simply as possible. It's essentially their self professed raison d'être and they do a good job of it.

Quibbling about the the accuracy of their simplified examples is missing the trees and the forest.

[noelchurchill]

You're welcome for the layup opportunity to score some easy points.

This serves as a good reminder that you will be swiftly punished on HN for making a comment that doesn't add value.

In my defense, I didn't miss the trees and the forest. I was merely pointing out that the story was dumbed down, as you put it, "as simply as possible." And replying to a post pointing out their overly simplified math. Seriously, implying that 1 x 1.8 = 2 isn't even back-of-the-envelop close.

However I did enjoy learning about how the Real came to be.

[tkeller]

I am going to have to steal that line about the trees and the forest.

[rbanffy]

I am an engineer. I frequently do such approximations ;-)

For most uses, like prices of eggs, it's close enough.

[wglb]

So that sounds like a BOEC, no?

[rbanffy]

Envelopes are for sissies ;-)

[wglb]

Well, it is true that probably 100% of my BOEC calculations are done entirely without the use of a physical envelope, so I couldn't disagree with you.

[rbanffy]

Since the arrival of e-mail, I keep my envelopes in the same drawer as my slide rules.

[wglb]

Agreed.

However, I do keep one non-virtual slide rule around just to whip out and show the kids now and then. Nice mahogony base, teflon slide, the works.